In a matchup between the best offence in the West and the conference’s best defence, something had to give.

Step up to the plate, Alex Burrows.

The grinding Canucks forward scored two goals to lead Vancouver to a 3-2 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues Thursday to wrap up a four-game road trip at the Scottrade Center, also known as the toughest building in the NHL to come away with points.

St. Louis sported a 17-3-2 record on home ice going in, but that was nothing compared to Burrows’ record in this building.

The Scottrade Center is where he played his first NHL game, it was there that he joined Daniel and Henrik Sedin on
Vancouver’s top line for the first time and let’s not forget his series clinching goal in the Western Conference Quarter-final three years ago.

“The guys were bugging me about it today,” laughed Burrows, now 18 goals to his credit this season. “I don’t know it’s something about feeling good in this building. Tonight coming in I felt I wasn’t very good the last few games personally and I thought I could be better, especially against a team like this that is very good defensively. They have a lot
of big bodies that get on the forecheck and make it tough for us and tonight we were able to get the win.”

Daniel Sedin finished off what Burrows started by scoring the overtime game-winning goal 46 seconds into extra time, with the Canucks on the man advantage. Burrows drew David Backes into a penalty with 20 seconds left in the third period giving Vancouver the power play to start overtime.

Already up 4-on-3 in overtime, the Canucks caught a break, literally, when T. J. Oshie broke his stick and went to the bench to replace it. At 4-on-2, it was only a matter of time. Daniel delivered the final blow with the goal counting at his 100th power play score and the 700th NHL point of his career.

This was a battle for top spot in the Western Conference with the Blues just two points back of the Canucks prior to puck drop; Vancouver improves to 28-14-3, good for 59
points, through 45 games, and 1-2-0 against St. Louis this year.

The Blues and Canucks play each other tough, as illustrated by the fact that seven of the last 10 meetings between the two have been decided by one goal, with six of those games finishing at 3-2. Three goals has now won this battle on nine occasions, the only exception was a 4-3 Canucks overtime win on December 31, 2009.

The road trip began with a rousing win over the Boston Bruins and ended with a character victory. In between there was a letdown and another unlikely win. That’s six points of a possible eight on the final Canucks road action until traveling to Colorado on February 3rd.

It’s time for some home games and some home cooking after a grueling four games in six nights.

“It’s been tough, we showed a lot of character tonight, I thought, by coming in here in a tough building and playing maybe the best team over the last month and a half,” said captain Henrik Sedin, who assisted on the game-winner.

“It’s going to be nice now to get home and spend some time with family, it’s been a while since we had a day off where we can really relax, so it’ll be good.”

700 and counting...

It seems like just yesterday a 20-something Daniel Sedin was collecting his first NHL point.

Now look at him.

Daniel Sedin’s overtime winner counted as the 100th power play goal of his career, an illustrious career that now also includes 700 career points.

The forward came into the night sitting two points back and he came within point with the first assist on Alex Burrows’ game opening-goal.

Then it was only a matter of time and with all the space available in overtime, odds were with Daniel scoring a momentous goal.

Henrik grabbed the puck for Daniel post-game and he said it’ll get a good home, even if he can’t believe he’s reached the milestone.

“The first few years were kind of slow in that department, but it’s been going good of late, especially since Burr joined our lines it’s been really good,” said Daniel, the master of scoring on the power play.

“I’ve been fortunate to be on the power play a lot and our power play has been extremely good the last three years, that’s also nice, but we got the two points tonight, that’s the most important thing.”

VANCOUVER'S ALL-STARS

Midway through Vancouver’s game day skate in St. Louis Thursday, Alex Edler lined up a one-timer from the blueline.

When stick and puck met, puck won and stick broke. Had he connected on what surely would have been a twine tickler, Edler would have demonstrated why he’s been selected as an NHL All-Star for the first time.

You’ll have to refer to his seven goals, and equally impressive 23 assists, for a reminder of Edler’s sensational play this season. The 25-year-old is sixth in the NHL in goals from defencemen, fourth in assists and tied with Shea Weber for third in points with 30.

Mix in the blueliner’s steady play in his own end and all-star is born.

Joining Edler in Ottawa for the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Ottawa will be Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Cody Hodgson, selected as one of 12 rookies.

With four players set to represent the Canucks during all-star weekend, beginning Thursday, January 26th, Vancouver has the most of any team other than the five sent by the fans on behalf of the hometown Senators.

RULES OF THE PRESS BOX

Your hands are dry, I get it, St. Louis is a cold place. There’s simply no need to put on vanilla hand lotion in the press box. Ever.

Luongo hits 211 -Roberto Luongo won his 211th game as a member of the Canucks against the Blues,
which moves him into a tie with Kirk McLean for most in franchise history.

Still great -Wayne Gretzky, the Great One, a former Blues captain, took in this game from the stands behind
the home net. Ironically, Gretzky’s first game with St. Louis was against Vancouver. He scored in a 2-2 tie.

Déjà-vu - Before every Canucks game in St. Louis, Game 1 of the 1994-95 Western Conference Quarter-Final
is shown on the jumbotron. Blues won 2-1, but Canucks won the series 4-3.

Singin' the blues - Before the national anthems singer Charles Glenn sang a Blues version Oh when the Saints (Blues)
go marching in. Into where? Good question. They’ve only made the playoffs once since 2004...